Psalms 89 · Verse 2

Psalms 89:2

For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
Psalms 89:2, King James Version

Psalms 89:2 in other translations

BSBFor I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”
WEBI indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”
ASVFor I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens.
YLTFor I said, ‘To the age is kindness built, The heavens! Thou dost establish Thy faithfulness in them.'
DARBYFor I said, Loving-kindness shall be built up for ever; in the very heavens wilt thou establish thy faithfulness.
BBEFor you have said, Mercy will be made strong for ever; my faith will be unchanging in the heavens.
WebsterFor I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens.

What does Psalms 89:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. I have said--expressed, as well as felt, my convictions (2Co 4:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Mercy shall be built up for ever - God's goodness is the foundation on which his mercy rests; and from that source, and on that foundation, acts of mercy shall flow and be built up for ever and ever. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish - What thou hast promised to do to the children of men on earth, thou dost register in heaven, and thy promise shall never fail.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 89:1-4

Though our expectations may be disappointed, yet God's promises are established in the heavens, in his eternal counsels; they are out of the reach of opposers in hell and earth. And faith in the boundless mercy and everlasting truth of God, may bring comfort even in the deepest trials.

Read the full comment on Psalms 89:1-4 →

Psalms 89:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
אָמַ֗רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiI have saidH559
ע֭וֹלָםo.lomforeverH5769
חֶ֣סֶדChe.sedcovenant loyaltyH2617
יִבָּנֶ֑הyi.ba.Nehit will be builtH1129
שָׁמַ֓יִם\׀sha.Ma.yim[the] heavensH8064
תָּכִ֖ןta.Khinyou establishH3559
אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣'e.mu.na.te.Khafaithfulness yourH530
בָהֶֽם\׃va.Hemin them

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 89:2

  • Psalms 36:5

    Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

  • Nehemiah 9:31

    Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

  • Psalms 103:17

    But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

  • Numbers 23:19

    God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

  • Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  • Psalms 89:5

    And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

  • Psalms 146:6

    Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

  • Luke 1:50

    And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

  • Nehemiah 1:5

    And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

  • Nehemiah 9:17

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

  • Psalms 119:89

    ל LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

  • Psalms 42:1

    To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mercy.
36:5; 103:17; Ne 1:5; 9:17,31; Lu 1:50; Eph 1:6,7
faithfulness
5,37; 119:89; 146:6; Nu 23:19; Mt 24:35; Heb 6:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 89:1

    Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

  • Psalms 89:2

    For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

  • Psalms 89:3

    I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

Read all of Psalms 89

Psalms 89:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque dije: Para siempre será edificada misericordia; en los mismos cielos apoyarás tu verdad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Je chanterai à toujours les bontés de l’ Éternel; de génération en génération je ferai connaître de ma bouche ta fidélité.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Denn ich sagte: Auf ewig wird die Güte gebaut werden; die Himmel, in ihnen wirst du feststellen deine Treue.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Priusquam montes fierent, aut formaretur terra et orbis, a sæculo et usque in sæculum tu es, Deus.